Key Highlights
John Drury, a truck driver, offers dance fitness classes on weekends.
After a decade in trucking, Drury reached 400 pounds.
Having shed almost 100 pounds, he aims to motivate others.
Have a weight loss journey of your own? Share it with CNN iReport.
John Drury is a towering 6-foot-7 truck driver, sporting tattoos on his head, neck, and arms, earning him the nickname “Big John.”
During the workweek, Drury logs 50 hours on the road. However, come the weekend, this 43-year-old becomes a certified dance fitness instructor, grooving to the beats of Rihanna and Justin Bieber.
Guided by the lyrics of T.I. tattooed on his head—“The old me is dead and gone”—Drury has danced away nearly 100 pounds since February 2011.
The significance of his tattoo, he explains, is that the 400-pound version of himself was the old John; he’s now embraced a new identity.
Drury’s transformation is inspiring. He realized the necessity for a change after a fellow truck driver, weighing 450 pounds and on the same medications, passed away from complications related to diabetes.
Entering a “biggest loser” competition after hearing an ad on the radio provided him with the drive to take control of his health. With a gym membership, personal trainer, and nutritionist, he committed to transformation, losing 54 pounds and finishing second in the competition.
With the newfound passion for dance, he created Big John’s Dance Fitness, leading classes to popular music. He hopes to produce a dance fitness DVD aimed at the overweight community, believing people can relate to his story.
Drury now weighs around 315 pounds, down from 400, and has adopted a healthier lifestyle, preparing nutritious meals with his family, including baked chicken instead of fried foods. His mission is to encourage others to stay active despite the challenges, proving that change is possible.
